Executive director of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) Nadia Morris is set to attend a high-level international conference at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, which will run from Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 2.

Morris will be playing a key role on behalf of Jamaica and the region at that conference which will address major policy-related issues arising in government procurement that relate to international trade, good governance and development.

She will be a panellist during one of the sessions of the Advanced Global Workshop on the GPA 2012. She will discuss the market-opening strategy and the economic benefits that may be derived from such a strategy.

Morris, who highlighted some of the topics to be perused at the event said: “Among the issues to be explored are sustainable procurement, the participation of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in government procurement markets, the prevention of corrupt practices, domestic review procedures, and e-procurement. Of note is the fact that the objectives, content and benefits of the GPA 2012 will be placed under the microscope. Similarly, the potential challenges and benefits of accession to the GPA 2012 will be examined, as well as the flexibilities available to developing countries seeking accession.”

The event, which is the Advanced Global Workshop on the Agreement of Government Procurement (GPA) 2012, will offer a three-pronged benefit to conferees such as building awareness on the GPA 2012 and related recent developments, examining the work of the WTO Committee on Government Procurement and exploring the synergies and commonalities between GPA 2012 and other international instruments and free trade agreements.

Among other topics to be examined at the conference are government procurement, the economic rationale for trade liberalisation in the area of government procurement and good governance.